Senate Bill sb2020

    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 2020

    By Senator Villalobos





    37-1473-02

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to traffic control; amending s.

  3         316.191, F.S.; increasing the penalty for the

  4         offense of racing on highways; providing an

  5         effective date.

  6

  7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  8

  9         Section 1.  Section 316.191, Florida Statutes, is

10  amended to read:

11         316.191  Racing on highways.--

12         (1)  No person shall drive any vehicle in any race,

13  speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration

14  contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or

15  acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record, and

16  no person shall in any manner participate in any such race,

17  competition, contest, test, or exhibition.

18         (2)  "Drag race" is defined as the operation of two or

19  more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds

20  in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the

21  operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected

22  course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose

23  of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of

24  such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time

25  limit.

26         (3)  "Racing" is defined as the use of one or more

27  vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent

28  another vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination

29  ahead of another vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical

30  stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving

31  routes.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2002                                  SB 2020
    37-1473-02




  1         (4)  This section does not apply to licensed or duly

  2  authorized racetracks, drag strips or other designated areas

  3  set aside by proper authorities for such purposes.

  4         (5)  A person who violates this section commits a

  5  felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

  6  775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. A violation of this

  7  section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable

  8  pursuant to chapter 318 as either a pedestrian violation or,

  9  if the infraction resulted from the operation of a vehicle, as

10  a moving violation.

11         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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14                          SENATE SUMMARY

15    Increases the penalty for racing on a highway from a
      noncriminal traffic infraction to a third-degree felony.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.